Retirees hit the 7 seas for relaxation, adventure

Marvin Smith and Bonnie and Wayne Woodworth have spent a collective 1,050 days at sea.

The travelers just planned their next cruise — an inaugural launch of a new Holland America cruise liner that will take them on a 20-day trip across the Baltic Ocean. They’ll go from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Russia, England and a half a dozen other ports before returning to Copenhagen. Prices for the cruise range from $4,000 for a basic double-occupancy package up to $20,000 for a penthouse experience.

Cruise vacations, they say, are an exhilarating way to spice up their retirement. Cruises are all-inclusive, often less expensive than traditional vacations and they typically include multiple ports or destinations.

“It’s a quick and easy way to see the world,” Wayne said. He and Bonnie, Sun City residents, estimate they’ve taken 30 cruises, totaling about 500 days, since the 1980s. Their favorite cruise took them in and around Thailand.

“You only pack and unpack once,” said Marvin, a Sun City Grand resident who has clocked about 548 days at sea on 35 cruises in about six years. “It’s like a floating city.”

“And you can’t beat the entertainment,” Bonnie added.

Cruise vacations are becoming increasingly popular among retirees, said Ingrid Hesler, branch manager of Bon Voyage Travel in Sun City West, where Smith and the Woodworths plan their excursions.

Beginner cruisers should try five- or seven-day San Diego or Mexican Riviera cruises to get a feel for the trip, the travelers advised. After becoming “addicted,” new cruisers should start taking longer cruises. While stabilizers below the ship help keep it steady, travelers prone to sea-sickness should speak with their doctor about how to avoid becoming ill on their cruise.

Cruise Holidays — the oldest and largest cruise specialty retailer in North America — released findings from its 2007 Cruise Holidays Travel Trends Survey. The Mediterranean was rated high on cruisers’ lists, especially on 12-day cruises which are most favored for longer cruises, while 7-day Alaskan cruises and 5-day Western Caribbean cruises are the top itineraries for mid- and shorter-length cruises.

“Our research shows that nearly 82 percent of all cruises booked so far this year are six days or longer,” said Peter D. Thomson, vice president and COO of Cruise Holidays. “The Mediterranean is becoming 'must-see’ territory for repeat and first-time cruisers alike. Closer to home, we are seeing continued interest among our customers in spending a significant amount of time exploring the Alaskan wilderness. In addition to 7-day Alaskan cruises being our top mid-length cruise booked, four of the top ten 'long’ itineraries were also Alaskan cruises.”

“Let’s face it, time is a precious commodity and when people are ready to use their well-deserved vacation time, they want to make sure their trip is the vacation of their dreams,” Thomson added.

Marvin, Wayne and Bonnie have taken cruises as long as 36 days.

“We don’t get home-sick, and we don’t get sea-sick,” Bonnie said.

While the islands are great to look at, cruising the Caribbean is one of the trio’s least favorite trips. Because it’s such a popular destination, the ports can become crowded and cramped, they said. And the Amazon, they said, is hot and humid. They loved traveling the Arctic Ocean, and cruising around Europe is always a favorite, the group said.

Bonnie, who needs assistance walking, said cruise ship staff has always accommodated her needs — even going so far as to carry her up a gang-plank, wheelchair and all.

After their first cruise, the Woodworths and Marvin were hooked.

“It’s more of a hassle to travel on land, it’s not as fun for people our age,” said Wayne, who prefers days at sea to docking in ports.

The only challenge now, Bonnie said, is finding destinations they have yet to conquer.

“It’s hard to find ports we haven’t been to,” she said. “Cruises are like potato chips — you can’t just have one.”

The following information is based on actual bookings made between January 1 and March 31, by Cruise Holidays stores in the U.S. and Canada:

Top “Long” Itinerary - 9 days or more

Destinations

1. 12-day Mediterranean

2. 9-day Eastern Caribbean

3. 12-day Alaska

4. 10-day Southern Caribbean

5. 11-day Alaska

6. 10-day Alaska

7. 14-day Mediterranean

8. 13-day Alaska

9. 10-day Panama Canal

10. 10-day Mediterranean

Top “Mid-Length” Itinerary - 6-8 day

Destinations

1. 7-day Alaska

2. 7-day Western Caribbean

3. 7-day Eastern Caribbean

4. 7-day Southern Caribbean

5. 7-day Hawaii

6. 7-day Mexican Riviera

7. 7-day Bermuda

8. 8-day Eastern Caribbean

9. 7-day Mediterranean

10. 6-day Western Caribbean

Top “Short” Itinerary - 1-5 days

Destinations

1. 5-day Western Caribbean

2. 4-day Bahamas

3. 3-day Bahamas

4. 4-day Western Caribbean

5. 3-day Mexican Riviera

5. 5-day Bermuda

7. 4-day Mexican Riviera

8. 5-day Bahamas

9. 5-day Mexican Riviera

10. 5-day N. England/Maritime Canada